Updated October 14, 2019 with CMS revised landscape data.
As noted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), monthly Medicare Advantage plan premiums have remained stable over the past several years — and this trend continues into 2019 with most Medicare Advantage plans (MA and MAPD plans combined) continuing to have premiums under $50 per month (- and 51% of all Medicare Advantage plans having monthly premiums of $25 or less).
- In 2019, 39% of all Medicare Advantage plan will have a $0 premium. As a comparison, 36% of all 2018 Medicare Advantage plan have a $0 premium.
- Overall, 76% of the 2019 Medicare Advantage plans (MA and MAPD) will have a premium of $50 or less. Overall, 73% of the 2018 Medicare Advantage plans have a premium of $50 or less.
| Premium Range | 2019 MA/MAPD Plans | 2018 MA/MAPD Plans | 2017 MA/MAPD Plans | 2016 MA/MAPD Plans | ||||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| Total Plans | 3,817 | 3,259 | 2,899 | 2,794 | ||||
| MSA no Premium | 6 | 0.16% | 3 | 0.09% | 4 | 0.14% | 4 | 0.14% |
| $0 Premium Plans | 1,496 | 39.19% | 1,166 | 35.78% | 992 | 34.22% | 973 | 34.82% |
| Premium >$0-$25 | 438 | 11.47% | 400 | 12.27% | 287 | 9.90% | 276 | 9.88% |
| Premium >$25-$50 | 974 | 25.52% | 813 | 24.95% | 769 | 26.53% | 694 | 24.84% |
| Premium $0-$50 | 2,908 | 76.19% | 2,379 | 73.00% | 2,048 | 70.65% | 1,943 | 69.54% |
| Premium >$50-$75 | 298 | 7.81% | 261 | 8.01% | 269 | 9.28% | 267 | 9.56% |
| Premium >$75-$100 | 230 | 6.03% | 234 | 7.18% | 227 | 7.83% | 215 | 7.70% |
| Premium >$100-$200 | 313 | 8.20% | 318 | 9.76% | 285 | 9.83% | 299 | 10.70% |
| Premium >$200-$300 | 55 | 1.57% | 57 | 1.75% | 57 | 1.97% | 61 | 2.18% |
| Premium >$300 | 2 | 0.05% | 7 | 0.21% | 9 | 0.31% | 5 | 0.18% |
The corresponding chart illustrates the stability of Medicare Advantage plan premiums for plan years 2014 through 2019 with an increase in lower-premium Medicare plans.
For more information, you can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to speak with a Medicare representative.
Reminder: October 15th starts the annual Open Enrollment Period
The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (or Annual Coordinated Election Period) for 2019 Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans begins on October 15th and continues through December 7th, with 2019 Medicare plan coverage beginning on January 1, 2019.